Back in '81, I installed a Phase 3 belt drive on my 45. It has worked wonderfully well all these years and I've only had to replace the belt once. As of lately I notice that the teeth on the clutch drum have worn down substantially, and it's starting to slip. The engine pulley still looks good. I did an internet search awhile back to try to get a new clutch drum, but it appears that Phase 3 must have went down the tubes, or I'm looking in all the wrong places. I don't really want to buy a whole new belt drive, but I will if I have to. I would rather just replace the clutch drum. Can any of you point me in the right direction on this issue?Thanks..............ARC

A new belt might get you down the road a little more. The late Phil Ross had a process to coat old pullies with Kevlar and remachine, but if Supermax is still around I'm sure the cost this operation would be prohibitive.I'm not sure if Phase Three was still using flat tooth belts in 81, but you can source that belt by size and tooth count through industrial belt suppliers. Google Gates or Uniroyal to see what is available. You may have to order through a local machine shop supplier or a manufacturing firm.

I had a problem with the belt drive for my 45, which was that not only do belt sizes and types vary between different suppliers, but the drum and pulley diameters ( and hence overall gearing ) vary as well. I ended up making a front pulley using the original Hayward pulley ( I have a BSA gearbox ) reamed out to a press fit over a 45 Depot centre, milled down to fit. The whole assembly was warmed and cooled to give an interference fit, and pinned when at ambient temperature.

Shoot, a man could have a good weekend in Dallas with all that stuff...

Well.....I'm presently waiting for a reply from Belt Drives Ltd. concerning a replacement clutch pulley. This morning I did some more measuring and studying. Flipped the belt over and bent it and saw little hairline cracks between the teeth. Needs replaced. That belt was new in '84. Closely examined the clutch pulley. Yes, it would be possible to machine it and fit a new pulley rim to the old. Although the front pulley is good enough to go for a while, it does show a little wear. I am starting to think that it may be wiser to replace the whole thing. In 1980 when I bought the Phase 3 unit, I think it was a little under $400. I see that Flatlands has one for $485. It would be possible to buy a new belt and acquire a pulley repair section and have it machined and spend nearly that much. I will wait to see the reply from BDL, but I am starting to think that it would be smarter to just replace the whole thing. If the new one lasts as long as the old one, I will be 90 and probably not care if it slips a little. Maybe I'm getting smarter. Thanks for the thoughts and input........ARC